First Meeting
The crowd erupts into applause as Bae finishes playing the last notes of Fantaisie-Impromptu. Bae doesn’t enjoy the praise. Not one bit.
The twenty-three year old pianist was very skilled for her age, but even she knew she was still far from catching up with her older sister. Bae’s face soured at the thought of knowing she had missed a few notes, and likely didn’t score First Place because of it.
The judges called up to the stage all of the participants and announced the winners. Third place. Bae had scored in Third Place.
“Damn it…” Bae muttered under her breath. As she began to walk off of the stage, she started contemplating what her mother might say. She already knew she would get scolded for performing poorly and getting marked off for her mistakes.
Of course I couldn’t have won, I was competing against the infamous Tokino Sora and Himemori Luna themselves. They’re well known for winning competition after competition. She thought to herself.
Just as Bae was taking her leave, an announcer came onto the microphone and said, “Thank you everyone for coming to witness these stunning pianists perform here in this beautiful theatre. If you’d like, feel free to stick around and watch all of the amazing singers we have lined up for tonight as well!”
“Singers huh? Maybe I could stick around to listen to a few of them. Anything seems better than going home right now,” Bae says to herself. She proceeded to turn around and take a seat in the front-middle of the theatre, so she could hear and see the performers better.
—————
This is starting to get boring, maybe I’ll leave now. Bae thought. Don’t get her wrong, she thinks everyone and their accompanists sounded good, great even, but none of them amazed her with their performance, until…
“Introducing our next and last singer, IRyS! She unfortunately doesn’t have an accompanist with her, so she will be using prerecorded music of her own,” said one of the judges.
I guess they didn’t have that many auditions, so I suppose I’ll stay after all. Won’t she get points marked off for not having an accompanist with her though? Bae thought. Oh well, it’s none of my concern.
Just then, an absolutely STUNNING woman walked onto the stage. She stood tall and confident, strutting with black heels while wearing a long flowy dress, with its ends draping onto the floor. The dress was a pure white, with a single leg slit, and purple accents to compliment the woman’s bright magenta hair, which seemed to be tied up in a high ponytail, and also showed off two pointed horns. She proceeded to gently grab the microphone with hands covered by long black gloves, and scanned the room with beautiful heterochromatic eyes. One eye, a piercing blue, intimidating, and the other, a soft pink, comforting.
Wow.. she’s really pretty… Bae thought to herself. Everyone around her seemed to think the same, seeing guests’ eyes sparkle wherever she looked. At that same moment, the woman’s eyes scanned the room, and they locked with Bae’s. It only lasted for three seconds, but those felt like the longest three seconds of Bae’s life. Before the woman turned away, she flashed Bae a smile. What the heck was that?! Bae wondered as she put her head down. It wouldn’t be down for long though, since Bae perked her head up as soon as IRyS started singing.
My legs haven’t faltered yet, they can still walk. My hands haven’t worn out yet, they’ll reach another day
If even my dreams bring nothing but frustrated tears, then I feel like I can keep going
So take another step forward. Go after your strongest wish (Do what you believe in)
Break down the walls that would stop you because you don’t know when to give up, that’s how foolish you are (No matter how many mistakes I make on the way)
I will keep forging ahead (No matter how much time it takes, I’ll keep pushing on) Until it’s the end of me
My voice hasn’t dried up yet, I can still speak. My eyes haven’t gone blind yet, they can still see the sunlight
As Bae was intently watching IRyS sing, they locked gazes, again. Although this time their eye contact broke as soon as it started. Why the frick does she keep looking at me? Is there something on my face maybe?? Bae pondered to herself. Despite that, she just continued to enjoy the show.
If I stopped right now, I would never get anywhere, so then, I can surely risk everything I have on the road that remains? Isn’t that so?
The lonely path that lies behind me is covered in countless wounds and grief, but I’ll go on until I’m complete. Anything to fill this void in my chest since it’s my only life, and one day I will live
So take another step forward. Go after your strongest wish (Do what you believe in)
Break down the walls that would stop you because you don’t know when to give up, that’s how foolish you are (No matter how many mistakes I make on the way)
I will keep forging ahead (No matter how much time it takes, I’ll keep pushing on) Until it’s the end of me
“Ladies and gentlemen, that was ‘Till The End of Me’ by IRyS! Give her a big round of applause, would you? Also! If you’d all be so kind as to stay for the results, that’d be great!!” one of the judges said. After that, the crowd erupted into cheer and applause, clearly captivated by the performance they just witnessed. Some people decided to get up and leave, while others wanted to stay seated for the results. Bae still didn’t feel like going home just yet, so she opted to stay.
“Alright everyone, if you would settle down, we will now announce the results. In Third Place we have IRyS, Second Place Ayunda Risu, and finally in First Place, Hoshimachi Suisei! Please give all of these talented individuals a round of applause because they certainly deserve it!!” the judge announced. People began standing up while clapping and cheering loudly for the talented girls on stage.
“Might as well join them. Although, I’m surprised she still managed to score Third Place, not having an accompanist and all,” Bae whispered to herself as she glanced over at the woman named IRyS. After a bit, the crowd and stage began to thin out, as everyone started taking their leaves. Bae started gathering her things and began walking out of the theatre. That is until…
“Um, excuse me!” someone called out after her. Bae decided to ignore whoever it was calling after her. “Excuuuuse me! Hey, Hakotaro!!” the stranger called out again.
“Oh for goodness sake, what do you-“ but Bae cut herself off, because when she turned around, she was met with IRyS.
“Oh good, you stopped. I wanted to talk to you,” said IRyS.
She’s really tall up close. Bae shook the thought from her head as she began to speak. “Alright, FIRSTLY, my name isn’t Hakotaro, I’m a rat THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SECONDLY, what business do you have with me since you practically chased me down the hall?” She asked the strange woman.
“Sorry, your name is Baelz, right? You’re also a pianist, right?” IRyS asked.
“Well I think you should already know the answer to both of those questions if you were watching the piano competition earlier, but if I have to answer, then yes, my name is Hakos Baelz and I’m a pianist. Call me Bae though would ya? People saying ma full name sounds too formal and weird,” Bae stated.
“It’s very nice to meet you Bae, my name’s IRyS if you didn’t know that already,” IRyS responded.
“It’d be hard not to know considering how EVERYONE was cheering for you after your performance. Anyways, cut to the chase! Why’d you keep looking at me, and what’s your deal?” asked Bae.
“Well to answer the first part of your question, I thought you looked really pretty up there, playing the piano,” IRyS said with a warm smile on her face.
This woman is way too bold upon first meeting. Her smile is really cute though… WAIT, THAT’S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?? Bae had to try and keep a straight face as she felt a blush creep up her neck. “Ahem, thank you very much for the compliment, although I don’t think I look, OR play that well,” she said.
For Bae’s performance, she had been wearing black dress shoes with red slacks, along with a bright red blazer, and a white dress shirt underneath completed with a red bow tie. She also had her hair tied into a low ponytail so it wouldn’t get in the way during her performance.
“Now enough with the flattery, tell me what you REALLY stopped me for,” she says with a stern expression.
IRyS proceeded to take Bae’s hands into hers, and excitedly asked, “Will you be my accompanist for me?”
“…HUH?”